Free Family Movie Night: Dec. 17th from 6:00pm-8:00pm

Join us to watch the new animated feature Toy Story 3 with the entire family on the 17th, in the Smith Center (MPR). Get comfy, come in your PJs if you’d like, bring a blanket or camp chair and relax with your kids. Dinner plates, popcorn and snacks will be sold (cash only). Parents, you must accompany your children, no drop-offs please. In the spirit of the holiday season, we ask that each family bring a new, unwrapped toy to be donated to children in need through Spark of Love. Thank you Cecilia Vazquez for coordinating this event.

Americana Night: Dec.11th 6pm-8pm

We have partnered with the Americana once again this year to help raise funds for our children. Join us for a fun night out for the entire family. Barnes and Noble is donating 15% of all of their sales on the weekend of Dec. 11th and 12th as long as you mention Mt.Washington Elementary. On Saturday, Dec.11th, from 6pm-8pm you will be entertained by the Mt.Washington Chorus, story time by our great parent volunteers and several other Mt.Washington student performers at Barnes and Noble. You can enjoy dinner before or after the Barnes and Noble event, due some Holiday shopping, then take all of your receipts to the concierge desk in the parking lot lobby to get 5% of all of your receipts donated back to our school. Also, every Tuesday, Ameci Trattoria is giving 10% back to our school on checks $40 or more. The American Holiday Gift for Schools is ongoing till Dec.24th. Thank you Sharren Harren for coordinating this event.

Fresh & Easy Fundraiser Night: Dec. 8th from 4:00pm-8:00pm

Mt.Washington gets 5% of all sales that night during our time slot.  Save your receipts as well, as on top of the 5% we still get $1 for every $20 spent.  Tell your friends and family and help us spread the word to bring people into the store.  The more money the store makes, the more they are able to donate to our school.  Look for more information on volunteer opportunities from your room rep, and our blog. Thank you Michelle Perez for coordinating this event.

Holiday Arts & Crafts: Tuesdays Dec.7th & 14th

All students are invited to join us on Tuesdays Dec.7^th & 14^th  from 1:30pm-2:30pm in the Lunch Pavilion.  Students will have the opportunity to make gifts and wrap them for their family and friends for a nominal fee.  Look for a flyer in your child’s backpack soon to sign them up for this activity.  Volunteer sign ups will be posted shortly, please sign up if this is an event that you would like to help with.  Thank you Holly Shuck and Gina Antestenis for coordinating this event.

Scholastic Book Fair: December 1st -2nd, Family Night on the 2nd

Dec. 1st-2nd. An amazing selection of books is headed our way! Mark your calendar for our Family Night, on Thursday December 2nd from 5:00pm-7:00pm in the Jack & Denny Smith Center (MPR) where the whole family can join in the fun. Join us for a wonderful performance by our amazing Mt.Washington Chorus, view the showcase of all the entries from our Reflection’s Art Contest, and listen to stories read by our talented parent volunteers. We can still use a little extra help, so if you are able to help out during the day, on family night, or with clean up on the 3rd, please sign up by the parent center or at MWPTA.org. Thank you to Anvi Kevany for coordinating this event.

PTA Reflections Arts Contest: November 1 to November 30

2010-2011 "Together We Can"

The National PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program for students. The Reflections Program provides opportunities for students to express themselves creatively and to receive positive recognition for original works of art inspired by a pre-selected theme, while increasing community awareness on the importance of the arts in education.

The Reflections Program was established in 1969 by National PTA board member Mary Lou Anderson. Since that time, more than 10 million students have participated in the program. The program's longevity and participation figures attest to its strength. The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for children, parents, schools and communities is unmatched.

Participation and appreciation for the arts is the Reflections Program's goal. Although the Reflections Program follows a "contest" format, winning should not be the emphasis.

Participation in the Reflections Program is a great way for students to explore and learn about various art forms. Creating art is a valuable learning process that challenges students to use their critical thinking skills as well as their creative talents to create art that supports a specific theme.

Students may submit an entry in any of the six arts areas listed below. Only original works of art are accepted. Students may enter more than one work of art. The six arts areas are as follows:

• Literature
• Musical composition
• Photography
• Visual arts
• Dance Choreography
• Film/Video Production
• 
  

Reflections Entry Form Packets will be available for distribution from your child's teacher, the office, Parent Center, or download the forms at capta.org, or mwpta.org.

Direct Appeal: Change for Change

It’s that time of year again, where we come together for our children’s education. With staffing positions cut, district facilities positions cut and programs and resources being slashed, our children's education is in jeopardy. We are asking parents to support our children by donating ANY AMOUNT to the Direct Appeal Campaign.

This year we’re calling it “Change for Change”, because the change in your pocket will make a huge impact when all families contribute something. How much change will you contribute?

$1 a Day? u $1 a Week? u $1 a Month? u $1 a Year?

YOU DECIDE. GIVE WHAT YOU CAN. BUT JUST GIVE

Our goal is 100% participation from each family of our 344 students. Your contribution is 100% Tax Deductible! You can make a single donation or set up a payment plan. Donate on line at mwpta.org or drop your donation off at the office. Please make your checks payable to Mt. Washington PTA.  So far we have raised around $1,800 on the "Change for Change" campaign, which is a great start, but we still have a long way to go if we are to match what we raised last year.  

We thank you for your support. We could not do this without you!

Scholastic Book Fair: December 1st -2nd, Family Night on the 2nd

An amazing selection of books is headed our way!  At the Book Fair you will find the latest and  finest titles for kids, as well as books of  interest to parents. Mark your calendar for our Family Night, on Thursday December 2^nd from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the Jack & Denny Smith Center (MPR) where the whole family can join in the fun.  We will have a performance by our amazing Mt.Washington Chorus, we will also showcase all the entries from our Reflection’s Art Contest, and have book readings. You will also have the opportunity to contribute books to your child's classroom library.  For our Scholastics website click here.  As with everything we do, we could not do it without your help, please be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities by the parent center and from your room rep.  The Book Fair is a great way to get everyone excited about reading. See you there!

Please respect our neighbors

Let's respect our neighbors’ rights and not park in drive-ways or in the red zones.  The safety Valet program is really wonderful to keep traffic moving in the morning.  Parents who wish to park and wait with their children before school starts, need to park in areas that do not block access.  Thank you so much for your cooperation in this matter.

Morning Running Program: Parents- your children need you!

Our school has received a grant from the Department of Public Health to help our children achieve the minimum fitness level recommended by LAUSD.  Last year many of our students did not meet this minimum Standard.  To help them get there this year, we need your help in implementing a morning walking/running program.  Children can walk/run the track from 7:45am-8:05am every morning with the help of 1-2 parent volunteers each day.  The parent volunteers will help our students in tracking the laps they complete. We so far have 3 volunteers but ideally we would have 10, so if you are able to help, please contact Anvi Kevany (volunteers coordinator) at volunteers@mwpta.org, with your name and the days that you are available to help. We would like to start the program on Monday, November 29th.

Thank You!

To Ariella Roberts and Cecilia Vazquez for providing the continental breakfast to our Pumpkin Festival volunteers last Friday, November 5.; to Jackie Cahill, for coordinating the Family Portrait Night, November 5; to Gina Antestenis for coordinating the Membership Drive; to Kwame Dow for coordinating the Food Drive, November 8 to 18; to Doug Young for coordinating the Halloween Candy Donation Program; to Nina Zippay for coordinating the PTA Reflections Program; to Holly Schuck for coordinating the Box Tops for Education Program; to Michelle Perez for coordinating the Fresh and Easy Shop for Schools Program; to Vicki Vainshtain for coordinating the Cartridge Recycling Program; to David Travis for coordinating the school's sound/PA system; and to Tom Allen for coordinating the T-shirts/Merchandise.

New Mt. Washington Merchandise

The PTA has ordered new merchandise and is now available for sale at the Parent Center.  We have adult and child t-shirts, and unisex t-shirts in different styles and colors, plus we are also selling aprons, and we still have a few calendars left.  So please stop by at the Parent Center between 8 and 10 am, or email Ariella @ waysandmeans@mwpta.org to order your t-shirt.

National PTA Database: Just Between Friends

We would like to thank everyone who recently joined the PTA, and to those who continue to be members every year.  Joining PTA supports local, state and national efforts to improve the education of children and the lives of families. Membership provides the opportunity for individuals to raise their voices with others throughout the state and nation to protect children’s rights. Membership ensures that PTA’s voice is heard on issues affecting young people as well as providing opportunities for parent education, communication and leadership development.  We have joined Just Between Friends, which is the membership database website for the National PTA.  Each member should have received an email requesting that you either update your JBF information, or register in order for you to receive important news and updates from the National PTA.  The group invitation code to join the Mt. Washington PTA group is 6339tok.

PTA Volunteer Scholarship Due November 15

Scholarship funds are available to PTA volunteers who have given 3 years of volunteer service to PTA and who plan to continue providing volunteer services to PTA.  Scholarships are available for continuing education use at an accredited college, university, trade or technical school.  The application must be submitted and received at the California State PTA office by November 15.  For a copy of the application, please go to http://mwpta.org/resources_pta.html and click on Important Documents.

Don't forget to record your monthly volunteers hours.  Remember that any activity that you do for the PTA counts as volunteer hours, including emailing your class parents, buying donation items, helping at the Parent Center, to name a few.  Please go to our website, mwpta.org, and click on Resources, and under Resources, click on PTA, or go to http://mwpta.org/resources_pta.html

Americana Holiday Gift for Schools: November 19th-December 24th

Our school has partnered up again this year with the Americana at Brand.  Last year our school earned over $1,000 through this program.  This is a very easy way to earn money for our school.  If you are shopping at the Americana between Nov. 19th and Dec. 24th, take your receipt to the concierge, located in the lobby of the parking structure (Central Ave. side) and ask them to tally it for Mt.Washington Elementary School.  Pass the word to all of your family and friends about this easy fund raiser.  Our school gets at least 5% of all the receipts shown from any of the vendors at the Americana.  Yes, all the vendors including the food and other kiosks.  Look for the flyer in your child's backpack soon.

Annual Mt.Washington Food Drive: November 8th-18th

2,010 in 2,010 is our motto for our food drive this year.  We are aiming to collect 2,010 items to donate to families in need so that they too can celebrate the holidays and not have to worry about what to put on the table.  A collection bag will be placed in each classroom, please only send non-perishable items in non breakable containers.  Canned foods, boxed items, dried pasta etc... you know what to do.  The classroom with the most donations will win a pizza party from the PTA.  Thank you for your support!

Middle School Fair: Tuesday, November 16th, 6:00pm-7:30pm

Where will your child go from here? Come explore the options at our Middle School Fair on Tuesday, November 16th from 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Jac & Denny Smith Center (MPR).  Our fair will feature representatives from a wide range of public, magnet, charter and independent schools.  Refreshments and childcare will be provided.